From the hairs on Lincoln’s head to the fabric of his suit, this lithograph is a beautifully detailed rendering and remains, even with a few areas of foxing, a commanding showpiece.

Historical Background

The copyright date of “1865” along the bottom edge suggests that this oversized portrait was created to honor either Lincoln’s second presidential term or his untimely death.

Lithographer Nathaniel Currier (1813-1888) and artist James Merritt Ives (1824-1895) formed Currier & Ives in New York City in 1857 to publish art prints. The company closed in 1907, after the deaths of its founders, when business had declined due to new printing technologies and changing artistic tastes.

Condition

There are a few areas of light age toning. It is displayed in a vintage frame, (not contemporary to 1865) as we bought it, so it is not guaranteed to be archival.